Padlock bumper and indicia band



July 8, 1969 OREF ET AL 3,453,758

PADLOCK BUMPER AND INDICIA BAND Filed June 14, 1967 INVENTORS SAMUEL M- SOREF DANIEL J. FOOTE ATTORNEY S United States Patent M 3,453,758 PADLOCK BUMPER AND INDICIA BAND Samuel M. Soref, Milwaukee, and Daniel J. Foote, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignors to Master Lock Company, Mllwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed June 14, 1967, Ser. No. 645,906 Int. Cl. G09f 3/14; E05b 67/38 US. Cl. 40--21 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE To serve as a bumper encircling a portion of a padlock and to carry identifying indicia, a band is provided, cast or molded from a suitable rubber-like, plastic or composition material having sufficient resiliency to cushion and guard both the padlock and surfaces which it might contact when the lock is subjected to swinging or other movements or displacements. When associated with a padlock in which the body is formed of superimposed laminations, the bumper which carries an annular inturned flange is anchored to the padlock body against displacement by having the flange thereof interposed and secured between a pair of adjacent padlock body laminations, abutting one of the laminations whose periphery is reduced and inset relative to the adjacent laminations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention solves a problem or difliculty encountered by manufacturers of laminated padlocks in that it is difficult to show on such padlocks distinctive indicia or the manufacturers trademark, because if such indicia is stamped into the laminations the heavy pressure from the press machine would tend to move or shift the laminated plates and rivets, resulting in a distorted lock body or case which might affect the internal working parts. This problem also exists in connection with incorporating indicia on the sides of padlock bodies or cases which are die cast or extruded.

With respect to padlocks which when in use are hung from a hasp or padlock eye, constant opening and closing of the padlock will deflect it from side to side, and in respect to a padlock which hangs from a portion of a moving vehicle, there is a tendency of the padlock case or body to rattle and become scratched or scuffed by the surface against which the padlock contacts. Therefore, the present invention solves both of the aforementioned problems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Applicant has no knowledge or information as to any padlock bumper and indicia band constructed similar to that of the present invention or designed to accomplish the same results. In one instance a name plate was provided for the side of a laminated padlock which required that the center laminations be cut out or recessed slightly to receive a name plate secured therein, but in practice it was found that the name plate thus mounted often became accidentally displaced or could be easily removed from the padlock case through use, wear or the insertion of a tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present padlock bumper and indicia band is intended to fit tightly around a portion of the exterior of the padlock body or case, regardless of the size or shape of the latter, and to fulfill the dual function of providing a cushioning and protective bumper and to carry dis tinctive indicia which, when carrying the manufacturers trademark or brand name, is an aid in sales promotion.

3,453,758 Patented. July 8, 1969 The bumper can be made of any suitable material having resiliency and in any desired color, with the indicia thereon in a contrasting color. It is contemplated that the bumper may have a flat, curved, rounded or protruding surface projecting beyond the surface of the padlock case or body and protecting all sides of the latter, and besides preventing scratching it minimizes rattling or noise when subjected to motion, and the resilient bumper, being permanently carried by the padlock body, absorbs blows against the padlock.

A further feature of the invention is that the padlock bumper and indicia band, besides having the utilitarian functions previously mentioned, adds to the appearance of the padlock and gives the same distinctiveness.

Additional features of the present invention are the provision of a padlock bumper and indicia band which is simple in design and construction, is inexpensive, is easy to permanently apply to a padlock body, is efficient in operation and is otherwise well adapted for the purposes described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing wherein the same reference characters designate the same or similar parts in all of the views:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a padlock having a laminated body with the improved padlock bumper and indicia band applied externally to a lower portion of the padlock body or case, part being broken away and in section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion of a laminated padlock case, with portions: broken away and in section to show the application on the improved padlock bumper and indicia band to the padlock case portion;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one form of the improved padlock bumper and indicia band, with part broken away;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of said form of the improved padlock bumper and indicia band;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the upper end portion of a padlock showing the improved bumper and indicia band applied to the upper end portion of the laminated padlock body or case, part being broken away and in section;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the bumper and band shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view through a slightly modified form of bumper and band DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will appear that a padlock is indicated generally by the numeral 10. Although not limited thereto, the bumper and indicia band of the present invention finds particular utility in connection with a padlock whose body or case is built up of a plurality of superimposed rectangular laminations 11 held together by bolts or rivets 12. For the application to the padlock body of an improved bumper and indicia band, generally indicated by the numeral 13, one form of which is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, one of the padlock body laminations is of a size such that all of its margins are inset relative to the adjacent laminations or plates. In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this is the lamination 11 positioned between the bottom plate 1 4 of the padlock body or case and the lowermost regular lamination 11. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is formed around the lower portion of the padlock body immediately above the bottom plate 14 an annular groove or recess 15.

One form of bumper and indicia band 13 suitable for securement about the lower portion of the padlock body is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, and it is a generally rectangular frame preferably formed of a suitable rubberlike plastic or composition material having a degree of resiliency so as to cushion and guard both the padlock and the surfaces which it might contact when in use and subjected to swinging movement or other movements or displacements. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it may be desirable to have the longitudinal sides of the bumper and indicia band 13 bowed outwardly slightly as at 16 to form a protruding bumper area. An annular inturned right-angular flange 17 is provided around the base of the vertical walls of the member 13.

The padlock body or case of FIGS. 1 and 2, utilizing the improved bumper and indicia band of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, has its lower portion tightly or frictionally embraced on all sides by the generally rectangular band 13 and securement is effected by the lodgement of the rightangular flange 17 within the annular groove or recess formed by the reduced size lower lamination 11. Thus, the band 13 is effectively secured about the desired portion of the padlock body, which securement is enhanced by the lamination-securing rivets 12.

Besides serving as a bumper to protect the padlock body, as will hereinafter be developed in more detail, the band 13 forms a highly effective means for displaying the trademark or brand name of the manufacturer of the lock, or other indicia. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, one or more vertical sides of the bumper 13 may have delineated thereon, as shown at 18, a trademark or bran-d name or any other suitable indicia or identification which adds distinctiveness to the overall appearance of the padlock. The indicia 18 may be applied to a wall portion of the bumper and band 13 by a screen or hot seal process and can be of different or contrasting colors relative to that of the band 13.

If desired, an improved bumper and indicia band 13 may be readily applied to the upper end portion of the padlock body or case, as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the bumper and band 13 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 except that it is inverted so that its annular inturned right-angular flange 17 is at the top of the band. The inverted band 13 is applied to the upper end of the padlock body, and for this purpose the uppermost lamination 19 of the padlock body is of a reduced size so as to provide an annular recess or groove 15' into which the inturned annular flange 17 extends, being confined between the top plate 20 of the padlock body and the uppermost regular lamination 11. As in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, any of the side walls of the band 13' applied to the upper end of the padlock body may carry suitable identifying indicia 18.

It is, of course, evident that the improved bumper and indicia band can be formed with flat or curved and rounded sides to give contact protection beyond the padlock body or case. In FIG. 7 of the drawing the alternative form of band 13" is shown as having outwardlybowed or convex vertical side portions 21. The form of bumper and band of FIG. 7 is, of course, selectively applied to the padlock body in the manner described in connection with the principal form of the invention.

The improved padlock bumper and indicia band, hesides providing a convenient and attractive mode of applying identifying indicia to the padlock, functions to protect both the padlock body and surfaces contacted thereby against damage, scratching or marring due to relative movements. All sides of the padlock body are thus protected, as are surfaces of doors or articles adjacent which the padlock is depended. This is especially desirable should the padlock be depended from some element on a moving vehicle, and it will thus prevent rattling or scratching or damage, as the bumper will resiliently contact the adjacent surfaces and guard the padlock body.

The improved padlock bumper and indicia band is relatively inexpensive and is easy to apply to a padlock, and besides protecting the body of the latter it imparts to the assemblage a unique and distinctive appearance.

It is to be understood that while preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and are hereinabove described, numerous modifications or variations may occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to include herein not only the illustrated forms of said invention, but also any and all modifications or variations thereof as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a padlock body formed of a plurality of superimposed, secured together laminations wherein one interposed lamination has opposed margins inset relative to corresponding margins of the adjacent laminations to form grooves; and a rectangular protective band tightly, completely surrounding a portion of the padlock body and having inturned rectilineal flanges along longitudinal marginal portions of the band and extending into said body grooves.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein outer face portions of the band are resilient, are outwardly bowed, and one of such face portions bears identifying indicia.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein the interposed lamination with the inset margins is immedi ately adjacent an end lamination so that the band encloses end surface portions of the body.

4. In combination, a padlock body formed of a plurality of superimposed laminations wherein one interposed lamination has all of its margins inset relative to the margins of the adjacent laminations to form an annular groove; means for securing said laminations together; and a rectangular, protective band tightly surrounding a portion of the padlock body and having an inturned annular flange co-extensive with margins of the side and end walls of the band and extending into the annular groove on the padlock body, the means which secure the body laminations together causing the band flange to be clamped between the body laminations there adjacent.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein the means for securing the laminations together are elongated rivets which extend through the superimposed body laminations.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,333,355 3/1920 Voight -54 1,811,660 6/1931 Bausher 40-21 2,847,775 8/ 1958 Darr 402.2

EUGENE .R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

